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Process evaluation of the SPPiRE trial: a GP delivered medication review of polypharmacy, deprescribing and patient priorities in older people with multimorbidity
  • +4
  • Caroline McCarthy,
  • Ivana Pericin,
  • Susan M Smith,
  • Bridget Kiely,
  • Frank Moriarty,
  • Emma Wallace,
  • Barbara Clyne
Caroline McCarthy
Department of General Practice, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Ivana Pericin
School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin
Susan M Smith
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Department of General Practice, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine
Bridget Kiely
Department of General Practice, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine
Frank Moriarty
School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of General Practice, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine
Emma Wallace
Department of General Practice, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine
Barbara Clyne
Department of General Practice, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine

Abstract

Background: The SPPiRE cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) found that a GP delivered medication review that incorporated screening potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIP), a brown bag review and a patient priority assessment, resulted in a significant but small reduction in the number of medicines and no significant reduction in PIP.
Objective: To explore the experiences of GPs and patients engaged in the SPPiRE intervention and the potential for system wide implementation.
Design: Mixed methods process evaluation; quantitative data was collected from the SPPiRE intervention website and qualitative data via semi-structured interviews.
Setting and participants: 51 general practices throughout Ireland, and 404 participants with multimorbidity aged ≥65 years, prescribed ≥15 medicines participated in the RCT. Qualitative data was collected with purposive samples of intervention GPs (18/26) and patients (27/208).   
Methods: Quantitative data was analysed descriptively, qualitative data thematically and both were integrated using a triangulation protocol.
Results: The analysis generated three themes, intervention implementation, mechanisms of action, and both were underpinned by the theme of context. One fifth of patients had no review, primarily due to insufficient GP time. The brown bag review component resulted in the most medication changes, particularly stopping a medicine. GPs felt it easier to change medicines if the patient was well known to them, and patients were generally receptive to change. GPs identified lack of integration into practice software systems and resources as barriers to future implementation.
Conclusion: Consideration of implementation of successful interventions is key to informing policy and integration into clinical practice. GPs and patients viewed the intervention positively, but implementation will depend on resourcing and integration into practice software systems.
Trial registration number: ISRCTN12752680